Robotics Teams Build on Success

St. Mark’s robotics teams are off to an extraordinary start this season, showcasing technical excellence, teamwork, and a deep commitment to engineering innovation. 

Several teams at different grade levels participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), a global robotics competition. The Upper School team, dubbed "The Marksmen," continues to establish itself among the elite programs in the country. At their second league meet, the team went undefeated, finishing in first place out of 36 teams. FTC competitions measure performance in several areas, including autonomous scoring (when robots operate entirely on code and sensors), tele-operated scoring, and end-game execution. Among nearly 7,000 active FTC teams worldwide, "The Marksmen" are currently ranked 28th in autonomous points, placing them in the top 0.5 percent of teams. 

This success builds on momentum from earlier in the season. Over Thanksgiving break, "The Marksmen" earned first place at their opening league meet and currently hold the highest offensive power rating in their league, a key metric measuring a robot’s ability to score consistently and complete game objectives. 

“These young men have spent countless hours designing, building, and coding,” said robotics instructor and Makerspace Director Stewart Mayer. “Their work is complex, thoughtful, and truly impressive. The future of engineering at St. Mark’s is very bright.” 

Middle School robotics teams have been equally impressive. The "The Underage Drivers" seventh and eighth grade team continues to hold its own against more experienced high school competitors. At the same December league meet, the team placed 15th out of 36 teams, winning half of their matches and demonstrating rapid growth. Earlier in the season, they earned an eighth-place finish, an exceptional result for a developing middle school team competing at the high school level. 

Additionally, the Middle School First Lego League teams, coached by biology teacher Dr. Dan Lipin, have enjoyed an outstanding start. The sixth-grade team "Squishy Gummies" earned the Champion’s Award, the highest honor at their qualifier tournament, while the fifth-grade team "The Undead" placed second overall. Another fifth-grade team "The LionKings" received the Best Innovation Project Award, highlighting creative problem solving and collaboration. 

 

The St. Mark’s robotics teams now head into 2026 poised to build on their incredible successes this year.